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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

This is a story many people can relate to who've experienced infertility and recurrent miscarriage. This woman had gone through fertility treatments and suffered through many pregnancy losses. When she finally does get pregnant on her own, she automatically assumes it's going to end in another miscarriage. But, as fate would have it, she conceived on her own and her pregnancy carried to term. Read more:

The previous
month, we’d made the decision to get off the baby roller coaster and
concentrate on us for a while. We even started looking into adoption. I
liked the sense of calm I’d been feeling the last few weeks. I was in no
rush for a ticket back to Crazyland.

As I got closer
to my office, I made the decision to take one more pregnancy test. I
wasn’t even really late, but I knew I would rest easier once I knew for a
fact that I wasn’t pregnant.

I paid for the
familiar pink package and made a deal with myself. Once I got the
negative test result, I’d call the doctor and find a really good
therapist.

Now at my office, I went right to the ladies’ room and took the test by rote. Then I stood in shock as the two lines appeared.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Licorice has always been one of may favorite candies and true licorice may be healthy because it has anticancer properties. However, it may also have negative effects on the ovaries, which, of course, are essential if you are trying to conceive. This article talks about a study done on mice, but it may indicate problems with humans as well. Read more:

Whole licorice root and purified forms of iso are used in herbal
supplements, teas, candies and as flavoring agents in tobacco products.
Iso is sometimes marketed to women for the relief of hot flashes or
other symptoms of menopause, and studies have found that the root has
anti-cancer properties for some types of breast, prostate and colon
cancer, Mahalingam said.

The same properties that make iso effective against some cancers also
might make it toxic to the normal growth and development of the ovary,
Flaws said. Other aromatase inhibitors are already in use in oncology to
stop the growth of tumors that respond to estrogen, but doctors warn of
potential effects on fertility in women of child-bearing age. Use of
iso to inhibit aromatase could have the same effects as other aromatase
inhibitors, Flaws said.from: science daily

Friday, November 25, 2016

I'm surprised I didn't find this article earlier. It's an amazing story which confirms what I usually write about on this blog and on my website (getpregnantover40.com).
Women in their 40's, even their upper 40's can be quite fertile! This story is about Tammy Guarino, a

47 year old grandmother who was on the pill for 25 years. She goes off of it (probably thinking she was too old to conceive) and eight days later...bingo! I myself had a surprise pregnancy at the age of 49...the life force is pretty strong! Read more:

She thought her pregnancy days were over, especially being in her
late 40s. However, her doctor

confirmed the news, making her his oldest
expecting patient."I asked him, 'Is it menopause?'" said Guarino.
"He said no and I said, 'Are you kidding me?' And he said, 'No. What
did you think?' I said, 'I thought I was going through the change.' And
he said, 'You're about to go through a big change!'" "We have lots of ladies who come in during their early 40s and are
thrilled to be pregnant but by the late 40s, this gets to be less than
less," said Dr. Joseph Miller, who specializes in high-risk pregnancies
at West Jefferson Medical Center. "I said, 'God is so funny to give me a boy after 30 years of girls.'
It's a miracle," said Guarino. "Now that I'm 47, I'll be 48 when I have
this baby. At this age, you realize how special children are, and we're
going to get it back ... and I'm loving it."from: wdsu.com

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Certain Types of Yams May Lead To More Twin Births

We all know that there are more twins nowadays with the use of fertility drugs.
However,
it was recently reported that in an area in Nigeria the incidence of
twins is quite common.

No one knows exactly why, but one possibility is
that their diet is quite high in yams. Based on previous research I
have done, the yams which may stimulate ovulation are not the kind you
eat on

Thanksgiving, They are a variety called "Dioscorea villosa".

When
I was trying to conceive, I looked for these yams (Dioscorea villosa)
at every health food store in my area and I couldn't find them (when I
asked, they looked at me like I was speaking Greek). Perhaps they are
more common in other areas around the US and the world. Here is the
article about

Monday, November 21, 2016

I realize that the media frequently focuses on how hard it is for women over the age of 40 to conceive and have a baby. This article from Australia is about a 40 year old woman who had her tubes tied 12 years ago. She decided to have the tubal ligation reversed and only eight months later, she was pregnant! She did have some complications as the placenta attached in the wrong place, but it goes to show you that conception can take place even when the so called "odds" are against you. Read more:

“She is a bit of miracle, seeing as I had my tubes tied for 12 years,” said Mrs Fiorenza, who defied

medical expectation and fell pregnant just eight months after having her fallopian tubes untied.

Mrs Fiorenza, who runs a gift emporium for kids, wants her story to offer hope to others who may be in a similar situation to the one she was in.'Hopefully someone reads the story and it gives them comfort in a similar situation to never give up, always think positive and things can turn out all ok,' Mrs Fiorenza wrote in a heartwarming Facebook post.n

Friday, November 18, 2016

Even if you did not grow up Catholic, you may still find some comfort in prayer to saints who are
associated with certain causes and conditions. One of these is Saint Rita.

Among the other areas, Rita is well-known as a patron of desperate, seemingly impossible causes and situations. This is because she has been involved in so many stages of life – wife, mother, widow, and nun. Those who are trying to conceive or experiencing miscarriage may truly feel that getting pregnant and having a heathly pregnancy is truly an impossible cause. But, sometimes the things that

we think are out of our reach can come easily. I have done many blog posts on women who went through fertility treatments only to fail time and time again. Then, miraculously, they get pregnancy by surprise.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Ovulation Light and Dark

I
have done numerous posts on how light (and dark) affect fertility.
Here is another article which addresses the affects of light on both
women and men and cites a study where women actually slept next to a
light bulb for part of their cycle to get it regulated.See also: www.getpregnantover40.com for more on ovulation and fertility
I
don't want to compare women with chickens, but I have heard that
farmers that raise chickens put them on an artificial light/dark cycle
to get them to lay eggs on schedule. It's possible that humans may
function the same way!

To
keep functioning as it should, the master clock needs to re-sync itself
all the time using a very simple signal: a period of bright light
followed by a period of darkness, i.e., day and night. That light-dark
signal reaches the master clock in the brain via the ocular nerve, which
relays the signal to the brain’s pineal gland. A century ago, before
the widespread use of artificial lights, the pineal gland (which
produces the hormone melatonin) had no problem obtaining the feedback it
so desperately seeks. Today it’s not that easy. But once you understand
how your body responds to light, you can take steps to make sure that
you get the light you need to keep your reproductive system functioning
like clockwork.

Light and the Menstrual Cycle
The study of circadian (24-hour) rhythms is still a relatively new
science, so it’s not surprising that the research demonstrating a link
between light and fertility is still fairly new as well. What makes it
so exciting is that it’s a multidisciplinary effort, with contributions
coming from experts in gynecology, physics, biology, nursing,
astrophysics, psychiatry, and andrology, among others.

Women’s menstrual cycles follow an approximately 28-day pattern based on
the 29-day cycle of the moon. The moon’s light ebbs and flows over the
course of the 29 days, with the days surrounding a full moon being the
brightest. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, researchers started to focus on
using light exposure that mimicked moonlight as a means of regulating
the menstrual cycle.

Then in 1990, Psychiatry Research published a study (“Night Light Alters
Menstrual Cycles”) reporting that women with long and irregular
menstrual cycles who slept with a 100-watt bulb beside them from days 13
to 17 of their cycles succeeded in regulating and shortening those
cycles from a mean of 45.7 days to 33.1 days.from: conceiveonline.com

Friday, November 11, 2016

Just for fun, I thought I'd take a break from the scientific and talk about Fertility Spells and Rituals.
Here is a fun "fertility spell" which I found from a site called "everything under the moon". Give it a try and let me know if it works!

__________________________________

During your most fertile time (usually 2 days before, during and after ovulation), light 9 white
candles in your bedroom. Place them around your bed. Sit or stand nude with your partner, facing the North, and repeat the following:

With one mind, we call to thee.
With one heart, we long for thee
Child of Earth, Wind, Fire & Sea,
Into our lives, we welcome thee

Turn to the East, then South, then West, repeating this incantation each time you do so. Proceed as nature requires. Repeat this spell each of the five nights before intercourse.

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

People in my age group remember Kim Fields as Tootie from the TV show, "The Facts of Life", but more recently, she was on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta". I'm not a regular watcher of the show, but I was watching "Where Are They Now" on the OWN network the other night. Kim Fields was interviewed and she talked about how she and her husband wanted a second child, but not only had trouble conceiving, but also had a number of miscarriages. Then, at the age of 44, she unexpectedly found out she was pregnant! It sounds very familiar to me!

They happily had their second child in 2013. I'm surprised I didn't find this story earlier, but better late than never!

Monday, November 07, 2016

One very helpful technique to use if you are trying to attract a baby into your life is to create a vision board. This is a way to create a 3D version of what you are trying to visualize. Some people have a hard time actually "drawing a picture" in their minds in the visualization process. Creating a vision board is simple and can be quite fun. Best of all it is extremely effective!

Friday, November 04, 2016

Here's another amazing story of a surprise pregnancy well over the age of 40. Not only was this woman 47 years old, but she also gave birth to triplets. These babies were conceived without fertility treatments and the women in the story already had older children (one was 25).

That's because Sharon Lewis is 47 and already has two older children, a 25-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son. The school cafeteria monitor wasn't trying to become pregnant and thought it was impossible at her age when she was told she'd be giving birth to three baby boys. 'This was all a big surprise to me, but it was a wonderful surprise,' Lewis said. 'I felt that it was nobody but God that blessed my womb at 47. I do believe he brought me to it, he'll bring me through it,' she said smiling at Tuesday's press conference. from: dailymail

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

Guest Post By Christine Sullivan
If you have been unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant for more than 6 months, before you embark on invasive medical procedures and spend thousands of dollars for assisted reproductive technology, ensure that your thyroid is functioning at its optimum.
Many women don't realize that good thyroid function is necessary for fertility, the ability to conceive and to maintain a pregnancy. An under (or over) functioning thyroid can prevent you from achieving that much desired pregnancy. While there are many and varied reasons for infertility, suboptimal thyroid function may be that "missing link" especially for those with no specific reproductive problems.
A full thyroid evaluation is essential, and should be done as soon as possible for any woman who wants to get pregnant, especially if she -

What Does the Thyroid Gland Do?
The thyroid gland is located near the front of the throat, just below the voice box & just above the collar bones. Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of the body's metabolism, blood calcium levels, energy production, fat metabolism, oxygen utilization, balance of other hormones & weight maintenance.
Hormones involved with thyroid function include Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) released from the hypothalamus in the brain, which stimulates the pituitary gland at the base of the brain to release Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which in turn stimulates the thyroid gland to produce Thyroxine (T4) & Triiodothyronine (T3). Much of T4 is converted to T3 (the active form) in the liver. Thyroid hormones are synthesized from iodine and the amino acid Tyrosine (from protein), and the conversion to the active form is reliant on the trace mineral Selenium.Healthy Thyroid function can be affected by -

How Does Hypothyroidism (Low) affect fertility?Anovulatory cycles - not releasing an egg / ovulating. This makes pregnancy impossible.Luteal Phase Problems - With a short second half of the menstrual cycle a fertilized egg can't implant securely and ends up leaving the body at the same time that menstruation would occur (very early miscarriage) & is often mistaken as a regular period.High Prolactin Levels - due to elevated levels of Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) and low levels of Thyroxine (T4) resulting in irregular ovulation or no ovulation.Other Hormonal Imbalances - reduced sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), oestrogen dominance, progesterone deficiency, all of which interfere with proper reproductive hormone balance.Your check list for thyroid assessment:1. Do you have any of the common signs & symptoms associated with low thyroid function?

Inability to conceive / infertility

Miscarriage

Menstrual irregularities

Period pain

Low libido

Lethargy & fatigue

Susceptibility to the cold / cold hands & feet

Inability to lose weight

Changes in texture of skin, nails, hair, hair loss

Recurrent infections

Constipation

2. Is your basal temperature consistently below 36.5 degrees C? Take your oral temperature at rest first thing in the morning before moving out of bed for 7 -10 days in the first 14 days of your cycle. Your temperature should be between 36 degrees and 37 degrees C but ideally above 36.5 degrees C.3. Blood Tests - For full thyroid assessment you require readings for TSH, T4, T3, rT3 & Thyroid Antibodies. TRH may also be required. For optimum fertility, your TSH level should be between 1 and 2. Your doctor or naturopath can order these tests for you.4. Urinary Iodine - Iodine is a key component of thyroid hormone. Excessive iodine as well as a deficiency of iodine can result in low thyroid function. Your doctor or naturopath can order this test for you.5. Diet & Lifestyle- Our modern western diet is a major contributor to increasing thyroid health problems. Foods detrimental to thyroid health include refined grains, simple sugars, soy products, peanuts & peanut products, caffeine, hydrogenated oils, cigarette smoking and alcohol. Excessive consumption of vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, turnips, Brussels sprouts have the ability to block the absorption of iodine.
Exposure to heavy metals e.g. mercury (amalgam fillings) and fluoride (water supply, toothpaste) may also be detrimental.
Stress management is imperative. Stress results in elevated levels of cortisol, the main hormone released by the adrenal glands. Increased cortisol will inhibit the conversion of T4 to the active T3 hormone.
Exercise is beneficial as it will stimulate thyroid hormone secretion and increases tissue sensitivity to thyroid hormones.Treating thyroid function is not a magic cure for all fertility issues but I have found that for many women, once thyroid health has been improved, their fertility issues were resolved and they have gone on to have a healthy pregnancy and enjoyed the treasures of motherhood.If you suspect that less than ideal thyroid health may be contributing to your fertility difficulties or just impinging on your health generally, take action now!___________________
Christine Sullivan is one of Brisbane's leading Naturopaths in the field of natural fertility, women's health, preconception care, pregnancy, family, infant and child health. Visit http://www.christinesullivan.com.au
With qualifications in Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition Medicine and Natural Fertility Management as well as more than 20 years of clinical experience, Christine seeks to provide excellence in nutrition medicine and natural health care through supporting, informing and educating women of all ages to achieve optimum health.
For information about Australian vitamins visit [http://www.healthycomparisons.com.au]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Sullivan/191745http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Poor-Thyroid-Function-Impacting-Your-Fertility?&id=1347262

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About Me

After years of infertility, and finally the birth of her daughter at the age of 44, Sandy Robertson shares information about natural ways to conceive on her website (getpregnantover40.com) and her three blogs on infertility over 40, miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage, and pregnancy/motherhood over 40.